Die structure for producing weedless fish hooks



July 4, 1967 L. H. MORIN 3,328,846

DIE STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCING WEEDLESS FISH HOOKS Original Filed May 14,1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l $3 4 52 6 v 1, v 25 g 30 I I: I: f 30 i 1' J I; Il I T\ f i i I |I II I H '1 35 1' l;

INVENTOR.

LOU/5 H Mom/v Y L. H. MORIN 3,328,846 DIE STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCINGWEEDLESS FISH HOOKS July 4, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 14,1963 INVENTOR. Lou 5 H MOR/A/ BY ATTOR/Vf) United States Patent3,328,846 DIE STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCING WEEDLESS FISH HOQKS Louis H.Morin, Bronx, N.Y., assignor of twenty-five percent to Madeline F.McGill, Denver, Colo., and twentyfive percent to J. R. Hanna,Bronxville, N.Y.

Original application May 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,361, now Patent No.3,169,299, dated Feb. 16, 1965. Divided and this application Nov. 18,1964, Ser. No. 411,995

9 Claims. (CI. 1836) This application constitutes a division of my priorapplication Ser. No. 280,361, filed May 14, 1963, now Patent No.3,169,299.

This invention relates to what are generally referred to as Weedlessfish hooks employing a guard element extending between the eye end of ahook and the barbed end thereof. More particularly, the invention dealswith an apparatus for attaching guard elements to hooks of this type andkind to insure positive securing and anchorage of the guard element onthe hook and in a manner to otherwise leave the hook shank free fornormal use of the hook and in preventing the hook from becomingentangled with foreign elements in the water bottom where fishing isbeing conducted.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with an apparatus, whereinthe mounted end of the guard element is supported upon the eye end andadjacent shank of the hook in the operation of forming a securing,bonding, molded body thereon, which can be referred to as anencapsulating shroud.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a die for use in forming thefish hooks of the character defined.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic face view of one of the dies shown in FIG. 1and illustrating part of the other die in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the die structure, asseen in FIG. 1, with parts of the construction broken away and insection.

FIG. 4 is a face view of one of the dies shown in FIG. 3, with parts ofthe construction broken away and indicating the gate leading to themolded body in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side vew of a fish hook made according to my invention,illustrating the molded bonding body in section.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of one die illustrating, in part, anapparatus for simultaneously forming bonding bodies on a plurality offish hooks generally supported in accordance with the teachings in FIGS.1 to 4, inclusive; and

. FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic section on the broken line 88 of FIG. 7.

My invention deals with the formation of Weedless fish hooks, generallyof the type and kind shown at 10 in FIG. 6 of the drawing, the fish hookcomprising a shank 11, having an eye end portion 12, the other end ofthe shank having a reversely curved portion 13 terminating at its end ina barb 14. The fish hook, shown in FIG. 6, differs from conventionalfish hooks, in that the shank 11, adjacent the eye end 12, has a keyrecess 15. At 16 is shown a guard element fashioned from a single strandof wire or other material, having a central looped end portion 17engaging the barbed end portion of the hook and a bent portion 18 formedaround part of the eye 12, with parallel ends 19 extending along theshank 11, the ends 19 terminating in offset key portions 20. At 21 isshown the molded or cast securing or bonding body for retaining the ends19 against displacement from the shank 11, the body including a keyportion 22, which extends into the recess 15 in definitely keying thebody 21 against displacement on the shank 11. In the showing in FIG. 6,a single end 19 is shown. However, in consideration of FIGS. 4 and 5 ofthe drawing, the dual ends 19 are clearly illustrated.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, I have diagrammatically illustrated anapparatus for producing fish hooks of the type and kind defined and, atthis time, it will be understood that, while one means is shown forretaining the body 21 in position and the element 16 against displacement from the body, other means can be employed.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, I have shown at 23 and 24 the two die members, alinedby pins 23. These die members have cavity portions at 25 forcollectively receiving the shank 11 of a fish hook, the die 23 having arecess 26 for receiving the barbed end portion 14 of the fish hook.

Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that the die 23 has acavity portion 27 for receiving the eye end 12 of the hook, the die 23having a depending chamber 28, with an upper reduced elongated boreportion 29 registering with the eye end 12, through which the shankportion 16' of the element 16 passes. The bend 18 of the element 16passes around a portion of the eye 12 and the ends 19 extend along theshank 11 of the hook, as clearly noted in FIGS. 3 and 5, and inretaining the element in position, shown in FIG. 3, a hinged flap inretaining member 30 rests upon the eye and 18 and part of 19 andincludes a portion 31 extending into the eye and engaging the bends 18in securely fixing the element 16 in position in the die and on theshank 11. The member 30 is pivoted or hinged, as seen at 32, in abracket 33 fixed to the die 23, as seen at 34, the bracket 33 havingbearing ends 33 supporting the pivot pin 32.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing where part of the die 24 is shown insection, it will appear that the sprue or gate 35, through which thematerial is injected into the die, is offset to one side of the fishhook and the extension or runner 36 of the gate passes horizontally intothe cavities 37 and 38 in the dies 23 and 24 forming the molded body 21,previously described. Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appearthat the die 23 has a large recess 39 for swinging movement of themember 30 when the dies are opened and the member 30 also fits in arecess 40 in the die 24 when the dies are in closed position. The member30 includes an alinement rib portion 30 which seats in a recess 41 inthe die 23, the rib portion 31 being shown in elevation in FIG. 3 of thedrawing.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that, when the dies are inopen position, the fish hook 10 and the element 16 are mounted in the:die 23, in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, with themember 30 in its open position, after which, the member is moved intothe closed position, shown in FIG. 3, and the die 24 is then moved intoclosed position and the casting or molding shot is performed to fashionthe body 21 on the shank 11 and the ends 19 to 16, as diagrammaticallyshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing; whereupon, the die 24 is movedinto open position, the member 30 is raised and the fish hook assemblageis removed from the die 23 and, thereafter, the shank portion 16 of thefish hook is fashioned by suitable means to form the curved contourtherein, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing, and bysuitable means, the extension or runner 23 will be trimmed from themolded body 21 by trimming means commonly known in the art.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, 1 have diagrammatically illustrated anapparatus for simultaneously forming a plurality of bodies, such as thebody 21, on a plurality of fish hook assemblages. In FIG. 7, 1 haveshown at 42 a plan view of a part of a die having a multiple of cavities43 therein, in which the shank portions of fish hooks are supported,each fish hook and its guard element being retained in position in thecavities 43 by retaining members 44, similar to the members 30. At 45 isshown a sprue and a runner 46 leading to two adjacent cavities and arunner 46' leading to an end cavity, part of the construction of the die42 being broken away to indicate that another group of three cavitiesand fish hooks can be disposed at the left side of the die. At 47 isindicated part of a nozzle for injecting the casting or molding material48 into the sprue and runners in simultaneously forming all of themolded bodies 21 on the shanks of the fish hooks. As the fish hooksdiagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7 are identical with the fish booksof FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, common reference numerals are employed. Itwill also be apparent that the die 42 has recessed side portions, as at49, for receiving the curved and barbed ends of the fish hooks.

In this connection, considering FIG. 8 of the drawing, it will appearthat the die 42 is wedge-shaped in form and has a recess 50 in thetapered surface 51 opening into the recesses 49 for a definite supportof the elements 16 therein in a flexed position by engagement of 16 witha transverse pin 52 in the recess 50. In this fiexure of 16, the shankportion adjacent the eye 12 of the hook bears against a surface of aconical passage 53 in the die through which the element 16 passes. Itwill be understood that, when the companion die 54 is removed with thedie 42 from the holders 55 and 54 is separated from 42, the element 16can be flexibly withdrawn from the cavity 53 in removal of the finishedproduct. The above reference deals with the single cavity portion of thedies, but it will'be understood that each of the cavity portions of thedies 42 and 54 will be similarly formed. In this connection, it willalso appear, from a consideration of FIG. 8 of the drawing, that the die54 has recessed portions 56 for reception of the members 44, thesemembers being pivotally supported in 42, generally in the same manner aswith the construction shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing. It willalso be apparent that part of the cavities is also formed in the die 54,as noted at 43' in FIG. 8. The wedge contour of the die 54 is shown bythe bevelled surface 54' and, in moving the two dies into the holder 55,adjacent abutting surfaces of the dies are brought into pressureengagement in firmly supporting the fish hook assemblage comprising thebooks 10 and elements 16 in the cavity portions of the dies, preparatoryto the injection of the material into the cavities in forming therespective bodies 21.

In the present illustration, the bodies 21 have been shown as formed ofa molded or cast metal preferably of lightweight material. However,these molded bodies can be formed of plastic material and the metallicsectioning has been selected in order to simplify the presentillustration.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a die structure for producing Weedless fish hooks, a pair ofrelatively movable die members, means for alining said members, saidmembers having registering cavities for forming a molded body, themembers having means for directing material into the cavities thereof,

4 means for supporting the shank and eye of a fish hook between saidmembers with part of the shank arranged in the cavities of said membersand a guard element having an end portion arranged in the eye and onthat part of the fish hook shank arranged in said cavities, and hook eyeand guard element engaging means movably supported in one member andpositioned between both mem bers in retaining the fish hook and endportion of said element in predetermined position between said diemembers preparatory to forming a molded body in said cavities and onthat part of the shank and element arranged in said cavities.

2. A die structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said one die memberincludes means for receiving part of the guard element.

3. A die structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said one die memberincludes means for receiving part of said fish hook.

4. A die structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said eye and elementengaging means comprises a fiap pivoted to one die member.

5. A die structure as defined in claim 1, wherein that part of the guardelement disposed in said cavities includes a key portion.

6. A die structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said end portion ofthe element comprises a pair of strands arranged upon and parallelingsaid shank.

7. In a die structure for producing Weedless fish hooks, a pair of diemembers, said members having 'a plurality of spaced cavities for formingmolded bodies in each of the cavities, the members having means fordirecting ma terial into each of the spaced cavities thereof, means forsupporting the shank and eye of fish hooks between said members withpart of the shank of each book arranged in the spaced cavities of saidmembers and guard elernents having end portions arranged in the eye andthat part of the shank of each fish hook arranged in the spacedcavities, and a plurality of hook eye and guard element engaging meansmovably supported in one die member and positioned between both membersin retaining each of the fish hooks and end portions of said elements inpredetermined position between said die members preparatory to formingmolded bodies in each of said cavities and on that part of the shanksand elements arranged in said spaced cavities.

8. A die structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said die members areWedge-shaped in form and engage means for support of the die members inabutting engagement with each other in the molding operation.

9. A die structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said one die memberincludes spaced recesses for reception of part of each of the fish hooksand said guard elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,425,832 8/1947 Lubbert et al.1836 2,454,193 11/1948 Martin 1836 2,500,546 3/ 1950 Judisch 249972,643,418 6/1953 Auldridge 24994 X 2,973,556 3/1961 'Morin.

3,108,328 10/1963 .Kelleher l8-36 3,135,020 6/1964 Hall et al. 249 X3,199,829 8/1965 Calim.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

J. HOWARD FLINT, 111., Examiner.

1. IN A DIE STRUCTURE FOR PRODUCING WEEDLESS FISH HOOKS, A PAIR OFRELATIVELY MOVABLE DIE MEMBERS, MEANS FOR ALINING SAID MEMBERS, SAIDMEMBERS HAVING REGISTERING CAVITIES FOR FORMING A MOLDED BODY, THEMEMBERS HAVING MEANS FOR DIRECTING MATERIAL INTO THE CAVITIES THEREOF,MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE SHANK AND EYE OF A FISH HOOK BETWEEN SAIDMEMBERS WITH PART OF THE SHANK ARRANGED IN THE CAVITIES OF SAID MEMBERSAND A GUARD ELEMENT HAVING AN END PORTION ARRANGED IN THE EYE AND ONTHAT PART OF THE FISH HOOK SHANK ARRANGED IN SAID CAVITIES, AND HOOK EYEAND GUARD ELEMENT ENGAGING MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTED IN ONE MEMBER ANDPOSITIONED BETWEEN BOTH MEMBERS IN RETAINING THE FISH HOOK AND ENDPORTION OF SAID ELEMENT IN PREDETERMINED POSITION BETWEEN SAID DIEMEMBERS PREPARATORY TO FORMING A MOLDED BODY IN SAID CAVITIES AND ONTHAT PART OF THE SHANK AND ELEMENT ARRANGED IN SAID CAVITIES.